Cheez Whiz is a processed cheese sauce or spread sold by Kraft Foods. It was developed by a team led by food scientist Edwin Traisman (1915–2007). While many sources give its national debut as 1953,[1] it was advertised by Kraft and retailers in several states in late 1952.[2]

Cheez Whiz is one of a number of "processed cheese foods", a category including some types of individually wrapped cheese slices. These products contain regular cheese that has been reprocessed along with additional ingredients such as emulsifiers and stabilizing agents, such as xanthan gum or carrageenan, and derive their tanginess and flavor from additional ingredients such as citric acid and flavoring compounds. Annatto is used for coloring.

Contents

Ingredients

As of 2016, Kraft describes Cheez Whiz as a "cheese dip" with the word "cheese" spelled correctly. The ingredients list contains "cheese culture" but does not, according to Kraft, actually contain any "cheese":[3]

Sizes

In some markets, the product has been sold in a narrow jar that tapered narrower towards the base, and sold as a spread. When Cheez Whiz is advertised as a dip or a sauce, the jars are larger and more of a squat cylindrical shape.

Varieties

Varieties include:

Cheez Whiz

Cheez Whiz Light

Cheez Whiz Tex Mex

Salsa Con Queso

Cheez Whiz Italia

Cheez Whiz Bacon

Cheez Whiz Pimiento

Cheez Whiz can also be found in "Handi Snacks" products such as Ritz Cheez Whiz 'n' Crackers in Canada.

Cheez Whiz was reformulated in the early 21st Century.[citation needed] The new formula is used for Cheez Whiz Light (15.5 oz) as well as the Original Big Cheese (15 oz). The products' jars were also widened to allow dipping.

Formula change

One change to the formula was the removal and reduction of real cheese. This change was not immediately made public to the consumer.[4]